Tuesday, August 27, 2013

You've bought perfumes and body mists, and seen the titles and flashiness of the label, but have you ever wondered why some bottles say "eau de Toillette" while others say "eau de parfum"? Or why some don't even say anything at all?

You may have thought of it as insignificant, but I can assure that it's not.

Take a look at these examples below.

You can barely see the tiny writing on the bottom (I enlarged the writing underneath for those who can't see it), so naturally, it must be insignificant, right?

Uh, NO. While all of these fancy French names are there, no one seems to pay much attention to them.

If you head on out to Sephora, Ulta, or even Target or Walmart and walk on over to the perfume section, you'll see several different labels on the boxes and bottles. And these, my dear friends, are what will tell you exactly everything you ever wanted to know about the perfume.

Overall, if you're looking for something that'll last the entire day, and you're willing to dish out some cash, perfume or eau de parfum is your best bet, while if you're just looking for something fun, eau de toilette and body splash is a great way to go. Here are some examples of what's-what from some popular brands and companies.

At the end, when it comes to price, you dish out more for a longer-lasting scent. I hope this cleared up any confusion, or just educated you on the art of perfumery.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

It's time for school again, so we've prepared an awesome and easy list to make your school year a breeze! Here's a list of our top-ten must-haves for this school year.

1. Bath and Body Pocketbac Hand Sanitizer

There's honestly nothing that you need more than this. School is SO dirty! Our top faves are Fresh Apple Market and Island Margarita. There are tons if different scents and colors, not to mention cute holders so you can attack them easily to your backpack/bag for on-the-go. (Read full review here.)

2. Maybelline Baby Lips

Looking for a quick burst of color and moisture? Look no further than Baby Lips lip balm. Cute, colorful, and clinical! Available in 12 different scents and colors from two collections, you're bound to find one that matches your skin tone perfectly. (Full review here.)

3. Bath and Body Works Fragrance Spray

What can we say? We really like the Bath and Body fragrances! Our top raves are Warm Vanilla Sugar and White Citrus. Available in full and travel-size, these are perfect for after gym- and anytime else! (Read some mini reviews here and here,)

4. E.L.F. Tone Correcting Concealer

Got that one annoying zit that just won't go away? Never fear, E.L.F. Tone Correcting Concealer is here! A quick dab, rub, and you're good to go! This stuff is AH-MAZING. (I'm pretty sure I have the wrong color, but Target only carries one shade, but it works fine anyways! And my shade is porcelain. Yay. I feel like I'm the color of a snowman...or albino cat!)

5. Lush Sea Vegetable Soap

(FYI: If you think we're including soap on this list because school is the only good reason to use soap...I am sorry for those that have sniffed you. There is NEVER a good reason not to use soap.)
This soap from Lush is just...amazing! With a salty, breezy smell of the ocean, along with nourishing seaweed and salt that takes the dead and yucky skin right off, what's not to love?

6. EOS Lip Balm

Looking for a lip balm that smells good, AND goes on smooth? Try EOS lip balm. It comes in a cute little egg-shaped container. Although it's a bit hard to fit in your pocket, it's a good idea to always have one of these little guys around!(Full review here.)

7. Sea Salt Hairspray

Have you ever wanted those pretty, beachy, coconut-smelling waves? Okay, so you never get those from the beach, (I look like a raccoon has been nesting in my hair after I come back from the beach. *sigh*) but all you need is a couple squirts of either Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturing Sea Salt Spray or Lush Sea Spray Hair Mist. (By the way, you can buy the Sea Vegetable Soap and the Lush Sea Spray in the Limited Edition Beach Box- it also includes lotion and a sea salt scrub!)

Edit (8/25/13)- DO. NOT. BUY. THE. LUSH. ONE. It smells absolutely AWFUL! I have a migraine right now because of it.

It didn't even work for me, anyways. Use the Beach Babe one instead. Trust me.

Or actually, just use a curler to make waves!

8. E.L.F. Zit Zapper

Once again, there's always that one pimple that ruins everything, Paired perfectly with the E.L.F. Tone Correcting Concealer, this little tube of liquid zit-killer costs only $1- but has results worth much more. Easy to apply at a moment's notice, this is definitely a must-have.

9. My Band Headbands

Have you ever bought the coolest headband, only to find out that it slips right off? Everyone has has that problem, so introducing My Band Headbands! (available at Ulta.) These headbands are perfect for any day, any sport, any time! Their velvet bottom makes it impossible for it to slide off your head. Plus, they come in all sorts of colors and designs!

10. Güd Pearanormal Activity Collection

Mwahaha, this smells SO good. The perfect mix of pear and tropical goodness...superb. Available in shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, you're pretty much covered for everything! I have to say that the ocean smells the best out of the three. What are you waiting for? *Get your Pearanormal on!

*Please excuse my lame attempt at a pun.

So, everyone likes gifts. We do too! That's why you, our loyal reader, is going get a gift- for free! Stop by iHerb.com to pick up your free Sierra Bees Lip Balm! Sierra Bees lip balm comes in 6 different flavors- and they are all organic and natural! Enjoy! (Click Here!)

How are you going to get your sniff on this school year? Tell us in the comments below!

This lovely little facial is packed with blueberries (YUMMM) and antioxidants, and I think this is the mask for oily/breakout/somewhat dry/sensitive skin. (This is probably a good time to mention that this mask was originally bought for my sister. My skin is desert-dry!)

"Still learning about proper skin care? No need to be embarrassed. After all, every face has different needs! We recommend starting here. Prevent disasters by taking regular care with our deep cleaning blueberry mask, Catastrophe Cosmetic. The little blue bulbs are packed with vitamins, with a gentle calamine base to cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Use this one weekly as a deep cleansing treatment to kick off your regular skin care routine.

Features

• Gentle enough for everyone: Catastrophe is one of our best-selling masks because it’s gentle on all skin types.

• Local matters: We buy our blueberries for Catastrophe Cosmetic from a local farmer here in British Columbia.

• Calm catastrophes: We use calamine powder for its calming and soothing effect."

-Lush website

I have to note that these facials smell really good. Some of the Lush stuff *cough cough 24:33 Perfume cough cough* smells, well, pretty peculiar. But these smell amazing. (Especially the chocolate one...)

Anyways, I asked the employee that was by the masks if I could eat them.

I got a couple strange looks for that. (But to answer the question you're probably wondering about now, yes, yes you can. It just might not taste too good.)

While my pores are noticeably smaller, and the redness (and a few specks of dried lava from my pimple volcanoes :P), my skin isn't perfectly clear. But hey, if there's a product that did that, then everyone would have clear skin. I think it's a long-term progress kind of thing.

Overall Ratings:

Scent: 3.8

Packaging: 2.5 (nothing impressive)

Durability: Well, if it drops on the ground and makes a mess...you shouldn't use it anymore.